I am having a macular hole in my retina repaired on Jan. 4. Would appreciate comments from others who had this surgery. Any tips on how to get thru the 2 weeks with your head down a little easier. What equipment you rented. How fast was your progress. Thanks. Janice

Hi Janice,
I've had two surgeries after which I had to stay in the face-down position for a couple weeks. I rented a chair which was similar to a massage chair, where you can rest your head and take the strain off your neck. Try googling "vitrectomy chair" to see what I mean. It came with a 2-sided mirror which allowed me to watch TV and talk to people. I watched a lot of TV, but I also borrowed books on tape from the library. It will help to have button-down shirts...um, let's see what else.....I did get some painkillers, as I found it difficult to keep the position without them. Oh, get some straws. Soft foods are easier...I talked on the phone a lot too (speakerphone). Sleeping got easier after the first couple days of getting used to it (I also had a contraption to put my face in to sleep).
I know it's going to be tough, but you'll get through it!

Hi Janice,
I've had two surgeries after which I had to stay in the face-down position for a couple weeks. I rented a chair which was similar to a massage chair, where you can rest your head and take the strain off your neck. Try googling "vitrectomy chair" to see what I mean. It came with a 2-sided mirror which allowed me to watch TV and talk to people. I watched a lot of TV, but I also borrowed books on tape from the library. It will help to have button-down shirts...um, let's see what else.....I did get some painkillers, as I found it difficult to keep the position without them. Oh, get some straws. Soft foods are easier...I talked on the phone a lot too (speakerphone). Sleeping got easier after the first couple days of getting used to it (I also had a contraption to put my face in to sleep).
I know it's going to be tough, but you'll get through it!

Thanks for your advice. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I never thought of button down shirts... I am going to get my short hair cut even shorter. I am worried about sleeping in the same position, but I'll do what I have to. How did you handle showers and hair washings without getting your eye wet? I know this is a silly thing to ask, but when my hair is clean I feel so much better, so being a woman, I think of these things. But then again, I may not when the time comes I suppose. Thought I'd ask tho. How come you had to have 2 surgeries? How long ago and is your eye sight better now? Thanks and happy holidays.

Thanks for your advice. That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I never thought of button down shirts... I am going to get my short hair cut even shorter. I am worried about sleeping in the same position, but I'll do what I have to. How did you handle showers and hair washings without getting your eye wet? I know this is a silly thing to ask, but when my hair is clean I feel so much better, so being a woman, I think of these things. But then again, I may not when the time comes I suppose. Thought I'd ask tho. How come you had to have 2 surgeries? How long ago and is your eye sight better now? Thanks and happy holidays.

I was very concerned about hair washing too! I bought a hand-held shower head that you attach to the spout of the bathtub, and I bent over the tub and washed it that way. This put me in the required position! But I found it was easier just to bend and stick my head under the spout itself than to try to hold the shower head. I also took baths, not showers.

I had my first surgery in mid-August of 08, with a scleral buckle put in, and a gas bubble. When the gas bubble was almost gone, the retina detached again, endo f Sept, so had another surgery, this time with silicon oil instead of the gas bubble

The oil was taken out in Jan 09, and since then my vision has improved quite a bit, though not perfect. It's pretty warped in that eye, but thankfully the right eye compensates quite a lot. I get Avastin injections to help to continue to improve that. Best wishes ot you...keep me posted!

I was very concerned about hair washing too! I bought a hand-held shower head that you attach to the spout of the bathtub, and I bent over the tub and washed it that way. This put me in the required position! But I found it was easier just to bend and stick my head under the spout itself than to try to hold the shower head. I also took baths, not showers.

I had my first surgery in mid-August of 08, with a scleral buckle put in, and a gas bubble. When the gas bubble was almost gone, the retina detached again, endo f Sept, so had another surgery, this time with silicon oil instead of the gas bubble

The oil was taken out in Jan 09, and since then my vision has improved quite a bit, though not perfect. It's pretty warped in that eye, but thankfully the right eye compensates quite a lot. I get Avastin injections to help to continue to improve that. Best wishes ot you...keep me posted!

I am having a macular hole in my retina repaired on Jan. 4. Would appreciate comments from others who had this surgery. Any tips on how to get thru the 2 weeks with your head down a little easier. What equipment you rented. How fast was your progress. Thanks. Janice

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